WASHINGTON — Medical researchers and abortion-rights groups accused a special investigative panel headed by U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of conducting a "witch hunt" after the panel issued a dozen subpoenas Wednesday to compel medical supply companies and others involved in fetal tissue research to divulge information about their practices.

The subpoenas seek documents related to fetal tissue research and the names and titles of current and former personnel involved in the procurement of fetal tissue.

Blackburn, a Brentwood Republican, said the information is needed to get a complete picture of what the organizations are doing.

But medical researchers and others argued the committee's investigation could slow or halt important research into cures for diseases such as Ebola and the Zika virus. What's more, they said, demanding the names of researchers, graduate students, laboratory technicians and others could potentially put their lives at risk.

"If heaven forbid an act of violence does occur as a result of this list being compiled, the chair of this committee and her GOP colleagues will be complicit in that violence," said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

The 14-member panel, known as the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, was formed last year after the firestorm over undercover videos that accused Planned Parenthood of breaking federal laws by selling tissues and organs of aborted fetuses.

Planned Parenthood and its supporters argued the videos had been deceptively edited, and a number of state investigations have cleared the organization of any wrongdoing. But Blackburn has pressed forward with the panel's investigation.

The panel "is working in a thoughtful and thorough manner to find the facts about what exactly is going on at these abortion businesses and procurement organizations," she said.

Blackburn said she issued the subpoenas because the organizations have failed to fully cooperate with requests for information and with previous subpoenas from the committee.

"Unfortunately, some of these organizations have so redacted documents — even after being subpoenaed — that it is impossible for us to get the complete picture of what is actually going on," she said. "Others have refused to produce documents required under previous subpoenas and have threatened to withhold additional subpoenaed information.

"There should be no resistance to letting all the facts come out. But some abortion supporters seem to be clearly rattled with basic facts coming to light."

The subpoenas were issued to StemExpress, a biomedical company that provides research labs with cells, fluids, blood and tissue; the Biomedical Research Institute of America, or BioMed IRB; the biotech company Ganogen Inc.; and various individuals with relationships to the University of New Mexico, whose Health Sciences Center conducts medical research using fetal tissue.

Four of the subpoenas redact the names of those to whom they have been issued. The requested documents are to be turned over to the committee by April 11. Several of those subpoenaed are asked to appear before the panel for a deposition on various dates in April.

Blackburn said the panel would issue other subpoenas when necessary.

Among researchers, there's a growing concern that the investigative panel's work and that various proposals in the states may be efforts to prohibit or limit the use of human fetal tissue in research, said David Moore, senior director of government relations for the American Association of Medical Colleges.

"It's a little unclear at this point where the panel may be headed," he said.

Also, "it's not clear at this point why the panel needs the names or identities not only of researchers, but of graduate students, trainees, technical and support staff — many of whom have little or no significant involvement in this sort of research," he said.

Research institutions and scientists have voiced growing concerns about security and safety issues after a gunman's attack on Planned Parenthood in November that killed three people and injured nine others, Moore said.

"Given the situation in Colorado last fall, there is a legitimate and significant concern for both the institutional security as well as the personal safety of these individuals," he said.

Democrats on the panel also cried foul over Blackburn's decision to issue the subpoenas.

"Once again, Chair Blackburn is using congressional authority to pursue baseless, inflammatory claims generated by anti-abortion extremists," said the panel's top Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.

Two of the entities issued subpoenas have never gotten a prior request from the panel, Democrats say, and four others were issued subpoenas to appear before the panel without any effort to seek their voluntary agreement to do so.

"It is time for this witch hunt to come to an end," Schakowsky said.

About Michael Collins

Michael Collins is the Washington correspondent for the Knoxville News Sentinel. He writes about the Tennessee congressional delegation and monitors the federal government for any policies or issues that might be of interest to Tennesseans.